Settlement

I have been living in Canada for 3 years, and I’m still getting used to life here. Vietnam and Canada are very different in many aspects, such as size, culture, religion, food, and lifestyle.

One of the first things I noticed is that everything in Canada feels much bigger. For example: streets, roads, cities, malls, grocery stores, and even the portion sizes at the restaurants. In contrast, things in Vietnam are smaller.

Food is another big difference. In Vietnam, vegetables are generally cheaper, while in Canada, meat prices are more affordable. You can see a lot of street vendors in Vietnam offering a wide variety of street food options, not only Vietnamese dishes, but also Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Indian, and Taiwanese street foods at reasonable prices. In Canada, there are many fast food chains like McDonald’s, KFC, Tim Hortons and Starbucks…

Cultural behaviour is also different. In Canada, people often say “sorry” even for very small things. At first, I found it surprising, but I’ve come to understand it’s more of a polite cultural habit rather than a serious apology. In Vietnam, saying “sorry” usually means some problems have happened.

The weather difference also affects the way buildings are constructed. In Canada, most homes are fully enclosed with tightly sealed doors and windows to keep out the cold, and they include heating systems. In Vietnam, buildings are more open, they always use the AC and do not usually have a furnace because of the hot climate.

Lastly, both countries respect religious freedom. However, while churches are commonly seen across Canada, pagodas are much more prevalent in Vietnam.